terrasse
/tɛ.ʁas/
noun
Origin
Latin
terra — earth, land
Overview
Meaning Now
- A paved or raised outdoor area adjoining a house or building, typically used for dining or recreation.
- A level embankment or raised floor of earth, especially one of a series for farming or construction.
- The outdoor seating area of a cafe or restaurant, usually on a sidewalk.
Literal older meaning
An earthwork; a bank of earth.
Language path
Latin → Old Occitan → Middle French → French
Earliest form
terrasse
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originates from civil engineering and military architecture, referring to the creation of raised flat surfaces (embankments) using packed earth. Over time, it evolved to describe the architectural features of garden design and eventually the common urban cafe setting in France.
Evolution
- Latin
terraceus
“made of earth”
Adjective derived from 'terra'.
- Old Occitan
terrasa
“earthwork”
Developed as a noun denoting an embankment.
- Middle French
terrasse
“raised platform of earth”
Adopted into French during the late Renaissance.
Connections
Word parts
terr-
root
earth
-asse
suffix
augmentative or collective suffix
Related across languages
English
terrace
an outdoor area; a level paved surface
Italian
terrazza
balcony; terrace
Spanish
terraza
terrace; patio
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Related to terrasse
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.